422 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Paynesville, in this state, which I sent to friends years ago. The 

 foHage is exquisite, and in winter it will sparkle with its frostings 

 of silver. 



Ornamental shrubs have a very important place. I will not dwell 

 long on this, for I had an article in the last Northwestern Agricul- 

 turist on the lilac. There are now over 130 kinds of these fine 

 shrubs, and here is a field for the enthusiast. If they never bloomed 

 they would be worthy of a prominent place on account of their 

 hardiness and striking leaf variation. The Ligustrina and Pekinensis 

 have very fine and delicate leaves. While the Bretschneideri, the 

 Emodi, the oblata and villosa have leaves very beautiful and striking. 

 The time of flowering varies from early spring till the first of July. 



One of the triumphs of modern horticulture is the introduction 

 of syringa Pekinensis and syringa Japonica, lilacs that are trees. 

 They grow about as fast and as large as our native ash. Japonica 

 has a grayish white bloom, while Pekinensis has fine, pendulous 

 branches and snowy white flowers, honey scented. This tree is very 

 hardy. It has stood three consecutive years of terrible drouth in 

 total neglect and thirty-five below zero. I now have about fifty 

 kinds ; all but one seem hardy and that may prove to be. It is the 

 cut-leaved Persian. The foliage is exquisitely beautiful. Plant these 

 in groups. A tree lilac in the center, then those of robust habit and 

 on the outside those of slower growth. Then you have a long suc- 

 cession of bloom, a rich variation both of blossom and foliage. 



I want to graft some of the late blooming bush lilacs on the trees, 

 and see if I cannot start an entirely new race. If I don't live long 

 enough, you try it. 



Syringas, or Philadelphus. — Of these there is a numerous family, 

 and I find them quite hardy. These can be raised from seed. Jack- 

 son Dawson, superintendent of Arnold Arboretum, of Boston, has 

 some extra fine seedlings with great showy flowers. I keep about 

 a dozen kinds. I should put these in groups. 



There is a large French variety of immense snowy white flowers 

 that hang in chains. These are very rank growers. I have had 

 single stems grow ten feet in a season. Put these in the center, then 

 grandiflora, next coronaris with crown-like bloom, then zeyhery, 

 then Gordons, then Avalance and Lemoine, and surround the whole 

 with the golden dwarf. 



Spireas are not quite as hardy, and yet from twenty sorts I think 

 you can select those that would do well here. I mention the hardiest 

 in the order of blooming. The arguta is very early and is a snow- 

 bank of white, and in the fall they are resplendent in their autumn 

 coloring, and the leaves hang on a long time. The next is pruni- 

 folia, or bridal wreath. Perhaps this is not hardy with you. Then 

 comes the queen of all, Van Houtii, which propagates so readily 

 from stools or cuttings — the easiest things to grow in the world. 

 They are strong and robust and make fine hedges. Then we have 

 the opulifolia with its wreath of foliage. It has a half globe for a 

 flower; put two of them together, and you have a small baseball. 

 This is a very strong grower. Put this in the center and cluster 

 the others around it. I have perhaps a dozen other sorts, but they 

 might not prove hardy. 



